ABSTRACT
Background: Many peoples suffer from tight hamstring muscles which predispose them to injury when they engage in vigorous physical activity. Ultrasound therapy have been used to enhance the effectiveness of muscle stretching, but evidence supporting their benefits is confusing. Aims & Objective: The Objective of the current study is to compare the immediate effect of ultrasound (US) and static stretching exercise on the extensibility of hamstring muscles. Materials and Methods: Forty normal Participants between the ages of 18 and 21 who demonstrated at least 15 degrees of unilateral hamstring tightness. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (1) ultrasound therapy; (2) 30 second static stretching; (3) ultrasound therapy and 30 second static stretching; and (4) control group which don't receive any treatment. The Main Outcome Measure was Hamstring extensibility measured by active knee extension test (AKE). Differences were compared within groups and between treatment groups using one way analysis of variance. Results: There was a significant difference between pre and post-treatment in all treatment groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference regarding the control group (p>0.05). 30 second Static stretching exercise followed by 1 MHZ ultrasound therapy showed a significant increase in AKE when compared by sole treatment or control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of ultrasound therapy followed by 30 second static stretching enhance the flexibility of hamstring muscle. This results can aid in designing physical therapy protocols for similar conditions.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the best physical therapy program to increase wound healing rates in patients suffering from venous leg ulcer. Methods: Forty patients who had venous leg ulcer for more than 4 weeks and not respondent well to medical treatment. Patients were classified into 4 equal groups 10 of each, Group (1): received 40 minute of monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE), Group (2): received 40 minutes of exercise program consisted of stretching and resisted exercise (RE), Group (3): received 20 minutes of exercise in addition to 20 minutes of resisted exercise (MIRE/RE), and group (4): control group which received conventional therapy of the ulcer. All groups received treatment 5days per week for 12days. Measurements of ulcer surface area and PUSH scale were conducted before treatment, post 6 days of treatment, and after 12 days of treatment. Results: The one way analysis of variance was used to compare ulcer surface area and PUSH score which revealed that both treatment groups (MIRE and RE) had significant (P< 0.05) decrease in ulcer surface area and PUSH scale after 6 and 12days post application of treatment. On the other hand, the combination of MIRE and RE showed a highly significant decrease in ulcer surface area and PUSH score when compared with control or with individual treatment. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that combination of MIRE to RE is more effective than individual treatment to enhance the healing rate of venous ulcer of the leg.